Rescue recognition for Chicago sailors

The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Mark Fruin and his crew for the rescue of a competitor. The incident occurred on September 10 during the 2023 Hobelman Memorial Regatta at the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club (Chicago, IL) when a competitor fell overboard without wearing a life jacket.

Two boats attempted unsuccessfully to make or maintain contact with the man in the water, including the boat from which he had fallen. At this point, the man in the water indicated that he was exhausted and anxious to get out of the water as soon as possible.

Fruin’s J/105 Nyctosaur, also competing in the race, saw the situation and immediately sailed towards it. Crew members on Nyctosaur immediately started to point towards the man in the water, grabbed a crew overboard “horseshoe” float, and turned the boat head to wind to slow enough to make and maintain contact with the person in the water. Nyctosaur doused their spinnaker and threw a throw-bag to the man.

They then pulled him onto the stern on their boat and lowered the swim ladder. After helping him on board and ensuring he was uninjured, they coordinated to return him to his own boat.

In recognition of Nyctosaur’s situational awareness, watchkeeping, preparation and superior seamanship in support of fellow racers in need resulting in the rescue of a competitor overboard, US Sailing presented the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to boat owner Mark Fruin and his crew on Nyctosaur: Jeff Goff, Danielle Fruin, Tom Egan, John Hooker, and Anya Bogusky.

The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is awarded to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils at sea within the territorial waters of the United States, or as part of a sailboat race or voyage that originated or stopped in the U.S.

The medal was established in 1990 by friends of the late Mr. Hanson, an ocean-racing sailor from the Chesapeake Bay, with the purpose of recognizing significant accomplishments in seamanship and collecting case studies of rescues for analysis by the Safety at Sea Committee of US Sailing for use in educational and training programs. Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for a Hanson Rescue Medal.

Details: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/awards-trophies/the-arthur-b-hanson-rescue-medal/

From left: Maggie Shea, USSA Board of Directors Representative and award presenter, Tom Egan, Anya Bogusky, Jeff Goff, Danielle Fruin, Mark Fruin (skipper), Gail Turluck, nominator, LMSRF Secretary, US Sailing Area K Coordinator. Not pictured: John Hooker.

Source: US Sailing